Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Early flight preparations are made prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Early flight preparations are made prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Early flight preparations are made to WK2 and SS2 prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Early flight preparations are made to WK2 and SS2 prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Crew chief, Steve Losey and aerospace engineer, Jason DiVenere discuss last minute pre-flight details, prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Crew chief, Steve Losey and aerospace engineer, Jason DiVenere discuss last minute pre-flight details, prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Flight preparations are made to Wk2 and SS2 prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Flight preparations are made to Wk2 and SS2 prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Pilots, (L-R) Clint Nichols,Mike Alsbury,Brian Maisler, Mark Stuckey and Dave McKay of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight2 and SpaceShip2 walk towards the aircraft for the first rocket powered flight (PF01) since the beginning of the program that began in 2005 on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Pilots, (L-R) Clint Nichols,Mike Alsbury,Brian Maisler, Mark Stuckey and Dave McKay of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight2 and SpaceShip2 walk towards the aircraft for the first rocket powered flight (PF01) since the beginning of the program that began in 2005 on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Pilots, (L-R) Clint Nichols,Mike Alsbury,Brian Maisler, Mark Stuckey and Dave McKay of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight2 and SpaceShip2 walk towards the aircraft for the first rocket powered flight (PF01) since the beginning of the program that began in 2005 on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Pilots, (L-R) Clint Nichols,Mike Alsbury,Brian Maisler, Mark Stuckey and Dave McKay of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight2 and SpaceShip2 walk towards the aircraft for the first rocket powered flight (PF01) since the beginning of the program that began in 2005 on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic WhiteKnight2 carries SpaceShip2 for the first rocket powered flight (PF01) since the beginning of the program that began in 2005 on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic WhiteKnight2 carries SpaceShip2 for the first rocket powered flight (PF01) since the beginning of the program that began in 2005 on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Designer Burt Rutan shares his joy watching SS2 powered flight next to X-Prize founder Peter Diamandis during the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Designer Burt Rutan shares his joy watching SS2 powered flight next to X-Prize founder Peter Diamandis during the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Pilots, (L-R) Clint Nichols,Mike Alsbury,Brian Maisler, Mark Stuckey and Dave McKay of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight2 and SpaceShip2 walk towards the aircraft for the first rocket powered flight (PF01) since the beginning of the program that began in 2005 on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Pilots, (L-R) Clint Nichols,Mike Alsbury,Brian Maisler, Mark Stuckey and Dave McKay of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight2 and SpaceShip2 walk towards the aircraft for the first rocket powered flight (PF01) since the beginning of the program that began in 2005 on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Sir Richard Branson 'chest bumps' Scaled Composites engineer Jason DiVenere following a sucessful rocket motor burn on SpaceShipTwo's first powered flight on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Sir Richard Branson 'chest bumps' Scaled Composites engineer Jason DiVenere following a sucessful rocket motor burn on SpaceShipTwo's first powered flight on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Sir Richard Branson, Scaled employee Brian Culler, Galactic President and CEO George Whitesides, Matt Stinemetze, program managers with Burt Rutan far right during the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Sir Richard Branson, Scaled employee Brian Culler, Galactic President and CEO George Whitesides, Matt Stinemetze, program managers with Burt Rutan far right during the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

Friends and family watch as the aircraft climbs for the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Friends and family watch as the aircraft climbs for the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

WK2 and SS2 pilots during an early morning briefing, lead by senior pilot, Dave Mckay prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

WK2 and SS2 pilots during an early morning briefing, lead by senior pilot, Dave Mckay prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Test Flight

Virgin Galactic

A TSC employee checks WK2 prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

A TSC employee checks WK2 prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes.

Early flight preparations are made prior to the first powered flight... News PhotoCalifornia,Finance,Horizontal,Lifestyles,Mojave Desert,Morning,Nitrous Oxide,Preparation,Richard Branson,Science and Technology,Space Exploration,Space Mission,Space Travel Vehicle,Transportation,Travel,USA,Virgin Galactic,Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwoPhotographer Virgin GalacticCollection: Getty Images News 2013 Virgin GalacticMOJAVE, CA - APRIL 29: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) (EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO SUBJECT SPECIFIC TV BROADCAST DOCUMENTARIES OR BOOK USE) Early flight preparations are made prior to the first powered flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on April 29, 2013 in Mojave, California. SpaceShipTwo is a private enterprise aircraft, designed to carry paying passengers into space. The spacecraft was dropped from the mothership at high altitude and fired it's engine for a approximate 16-second burn taking the craft through the sound barrier. The hybrid rocket motor is fueled by nitrous oxide and a rubber propellent combination. The motor can be 'shut down' at any time for safety and flight requirement purposes. (Photo by Mark Greenberg/Virgin Galactic/Getty Images)